IMPLICATIONS OF RECREATIONAL NEEDS FOR HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENTS

THE PROLONGED AND RAPID GROWTH IN OUTDOOR RECREATION STEMS FROM FOUR BASIC FACTORS: POPULATION CHANGES, PER CAPITA INCOME CHANGES, INCREASES IN LEISURE, AND IMPROVEMENT IN THE MEANS OF TRAVEL. EACH OF THESE FACETS IS EXAMINED BRIEFLY. THE KINDS OF OUTDOOR RECREATION AREAS ARE DISCUSSED FROM THE VIEWPOINTS OF THE FOLLOWING GROUPS: USER-ORIENTED AREAS, RESOURCE-BASED AREAS, AND INTERMEDIATE AREAS, LOCATED CLOSER TO MOST USERS. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT: (1) THE DEMANDS OF THE PUBLIC FOR OUTDOOR RECREATION WILL CREATE A DEMAND FOR HIGHWAY SERVICES THAT WILL BE DETERMINATIVE FOR MANY HIGHWAYS IN THE FUTURE, AND (2) MOST HIGHWAYS ARE BETTER SUITED TO MOVING CATTLE TO MARKET THAN TO MOVING PEOPLE FOR RECREATION. IT IS EMPHASIZED THAT HIGHWAYS ARE DESIGNED NOT MERELY TO MOVE GOODS AND PEOPLE AT LOWEST COST, BUT ALSO WITH AN EYE TO THEIR COMFORT AND THEIR SATISFACTION.